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The classic way is to derive your single point element and then make a circular array (or copy/paste/rotate). Other than that I can't really think of a good technique, especially for those cases where folks want a distinctive north marker, lesser EWS markers, and lesser still fractional markers. And even then, that basic style of the rose requires something called artistic sensability, which I really don't have much understanding of.

I had analyse over 100 Compassroses from old maps writing ob a concept letter with detailed construction plans, I was in awe about how much simplicity but on the other hand complexity there was within the compassroses on the maps, (15. -17. AD)

Following on from what Waldronate said: most good vector drawing programmes allow you to replicate and rotate. So if I need 360 small ticks in a circle I will use Serif Drawplus to make it. I draw one tick, I move the centre of rotation of the tick to where I want the centre of the circle of ticks to be. I then use a command which will draw 359 ticks each at 1% to the last around the centre of the circle. It takes a few seconds to do. I would be surprised if Inkscape did not have this capability.

Hi Revells
I just downloaded this Drawplus thingy and will try it out today, this sounds exectly what I need.
Could you do me the favour and make a small screenshot or something how to do this? I am kind of a noob in vectorthings.